Folding bed.



No. 662,2!3. Patented NW. 20, I900. J. F. WILMOT.

' FOLDING BED.

(Application filed m. 23, 1900.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

WITNESSES lNI ENTOR VA iFwwwyb W 65/ wm/cw 'VfiM/ui Y Attorneys.

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0 0 H 2 V o N d .m n Du t a P 0 M L W F 2 2 no 6 0 N FOLDING BED.

(Application filed 1mm 23, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR Attorneys WITNESSES %Z 45- m: Nonms swans co wmoumo" wAsuwm'omu. c

UNTTED JOHN F. WILHOT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING BED.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,213, dated November20, 1900.

Application filed March 23. 1900. serial No. 9,845. No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. WILMOT, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Detroit, conntyof Wayne, State of'Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Im provements in Folding Beds; and I declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to folding beds, and has for its objectimprovements which include several novel features, and these are, first,a frame in which the headboard is supplemented by wing-pieces that arearranged to be folded flat against the outside of the headboard when thebed is turned down, where they are generally out of sight, or if not outof sight are so arranged in conformity with this face of the headboardthat they appear to be a part of the headboard itself. These wings alsoare arranged to turn to a position at right angles with the headboardwhen the bed is turned up and not being used and with their free edgesturned toward the foot of the bed, and in this position they incloseandconceal the edges of the mattress, mattress-support, and bedding andform the upper part of an inclosing cabinet which conceals all thecontents of the bedstead, the wings on the bed-posts serving the purposealso of ventilating the bedding when the bed is turned up by leaving thesame partly turned outward; second, a second improvement is comprised inthe connection between the bed-bottom or mattress-support and the baseof the headboard or cabinet into which the mattress-support folds;third, an improvement which relates to a folding brace that is arrangedto act as a brace to the cabinet or headboard part of the structure toprevent the top of the headboard from tipping forward and falling ontothe mattress-support when the mattresssupport is turned down in positionto be used for sleeping; fourth, an improvement in the hinge connectionbetween the posts of the headboard proper and the folding wings whichconstitute the ends of the cabinet into which the mattress-supportfolds, and this improvement is one which permits the folding wing toassume either of the two positions before spoken of.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the bedstead with themattress-support folded down to the position it occupies when in use forsleeping purposes. Fig. 2 is a per spective of the bedstead with themattress support folded up against the headboard, one of the wing-piecesfolded in to constitute the end of the cabinet and with the otherwingpiece partly closed in. In this view the bedstead is seen as itappears to one standing near the foot of the bed. Fig. 3 is aperspective of the bed folded as seen by one looking at the outside ofthe headboard. The folded bed shown in this view has the appearance of acabinet. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal broken section, and it shows in fulllines the mattress-support lowered to its horizontal position and indotted lines the mattress-support raised to its vertical position. Fig.5 is a plan showing a corner of the mattress-supporting frame. This viewshows the means by which the wire webbing of the mattress is stretched.Fig. 6 is a section through the bar which supports the head end of thewebbing, and it indicates the way the webbing is held to the bar. Fig. 7shows a folding end support for the mattress, and this end support isarranged to bend the end of the mattress, hold it from sliding when themattress-support is lifted, and it also folds out and extends thebed-bottom or mattress-support when the mattress-support is turned down,furnishing a support for the extreme head end of the mattress. Fig. 8shows a corner of the mattress-frame and indicates a manner in which thefootboard is made removable from the mattress-supporting frame. Fig. 9is a cross-section of a side post of the headboard, taken at a hingeconnection between the post and the wing. Fig. 10 is a plan view of acorner. This figure, taken in connection with Figs. 4=and 7, shows theaction of the spring arranged to pass from a state of tension when themattress-support is down, as in Fig. 4, through a state of relaxation,and a second state of tension when the mattress-support is lifted, asshown in Fig. 7 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A indicates the headboard. At each side of the headboard is a post 1) c.The form or shape of these posts between the ends is not material, asany pleasing contour may be adopted, but near the top and bottom of eachpost there is a part which is finished to a cylindrical form, and theshort cylinder, a crosssection of which is indicated at 1 in Fig. 9,constitutes the pintle or axis upon which is placed and on which turns aring 2*. The corresponding ringat the bottom of the post Z) is indicatedat 3" and the rings on the post 0 are indicated at 2 and 3. The ringsare alike and a description of the one shown in Fig. 9 will besuificient for a clear understanding of the construction of each.

The ring 2 is provided with a lug or hingeknuckle 4;, in which engages apin 5 that holds this knuckle to a leaf-hinge 6 and the leaf-hinge 6 issecured to a wing B. The leaf-hinge 6 is preferably a forked or doubledleaf with a socket into which the edge of the wing B is inserted, and oneach side of the leaf 6 is a horn or stop 7", that limits the motion orswing of the wing B on the pin 5 The wing B has a swing of about ninetyde grees on the pin 5". The exact amount of its swing is not material,although it should not vary greatly from the amount mentioned. lhe wingB has a second capacity of swing or turn on the post I), and in makingthis swing or turn the ring acts as a hinge-knuckle and the post as thepintle on which it turns. This compound hinge enables the wing B to foldflat against the outside of the headboard or to fold to a position twohundred and seventy degrees around therefrom and at right angles to theheadboard, and the ornamental post I) shows as a rounded post or cornerwhen the wing is in both positions, and the post 12 conceals the jointbetween the head board and the wing in both positions, and especiallyconceals it when the wing is folded to the position shown in Fig. 3. Thestop or horn 7 may be located either on the leaf 6 of the hinge or itmay be located on the ring and form a part of the ornamental outersurface of the ring 2. The main portion or a large portion of the bodyof the post is joined to and firmly held by the body of the head boardA, and in reality there is no necessity that the post be separated fromthe headboard at any place except Where the ring encircles it.

The upper end of the wing B should rise above and conceal the upper endof the lifted bed-bottom. The bottom end of the wing B reaches to a lineabout equal to the horizontal line of the mattress-support, and belowthis line the sides of the structure consist of sides '13, that arepermanently fixed to the headboard and are held in place by crossbars Dand D. Of these the bar D is part of the frame, and the cross-bar D isalso a part of the frame, but is round either in whole or in part andconstitutes an axis or journal on which are mounted two frictionrollersd, and on these friction-rollers rests the-head end of themattress-support E.

The mattress-support consists of two parts.

One part is a rectangular frame E, to which is secured atightly-stretched woven-wire fabric, and a folding frame 2, whichconsists of a cross-bar 1, held at the end of arms or links 2 This framesupports a fabric slat. or cloth extension of the main frame thatprojects beyond the head part of the frame E toward the headboard A,assuming the nearly-horizontal position shown in Fig. 4 when themattress-support is lowered and assuming the folded position shown inFig. 7 when the mattress-support is lifted. The extension or auxiliaryhead -support in the mattress is caused to assume the positionsindicated in Figs. 4. and 7 by means of a track that guides the outer orfree end of the auxiliary frame 6 when the main frame E is raised orlowered. The auxiliary frame is provided at its free end with wheels 3,that engage upon a track J. The upper part of this track J is nearlyhorizontal and is-located properly with reference to the main frame, sothat the wheel 3 rests on the track when the main frame E is turneddown. to its vertical position, the outer or free end of the auxiliaryframe is first drawn away from the headboard until the wheel 3 drops oiffrom the horizontal part of the track J and the arm 2 assumes a positionat an angle with the main frame E, and this angle diminishes continuallyas the free end of the main frame E rises, the free end of the auxiliaryframe 6 and the main frame closing together until they assume theposition shown in Fig. 7. The head end of the main frame E rests onsupporting friction-wheels (l, as abovesaid. Links G connect the end ofthe frame E to the pins g, that project inward from the side pieces B,just inside (toward the headboard) the journal D of the bearingwheels 1.

When the free end of the mattress support or frame E is lifted, the headend of the frame E swings around 9 as a center and the frame and partsconnected therewith assume the position shown in dotted lines, with thelink G leading downward to near the bottom of the cabinet, with the ping near the bottom, and with the mattress support or frame E vertical andits free end pointing upward. The auxiliary frame (2 has changed itsposition and the side or arm 2 is now at an angle to the main frame,although it is nearly parallel to its first position, and the fabricwhich connects the crosspiece 3 with the main frame is looped or bentand forms a support which eifectually prevents the mattress fromslidingalong the now upturned mattress support. The mattress isprevented from rising because its now upper end engages against thefootboard 6 of the bed.

A spring K is arranged to aid in lifting the free end of the bed-bottomand to aid in holding the bed-bottom in its elevated position. In orderthat it may do this, the spring K is ar ranged to be in a state oftension when the free end of the bed-bottoin is down, to pass When themain frame E is swinging 'hrongh its condition of distension, and bebrought again into a state of tension when the bed-bottom is lifted. Thespring which has this function is a coil-spring, one end of which 1 issecured to the inside of the cabinet at a point nearer the headboardthan the extreme head end. of the frame E, and that end of the springwhich is secured to the frame E is nearer the middle line of the bedthan is the end which is secured to the cabinet. The spring leads fromits point of attachment to the cabinet to its point of attachment withthe frame diagonally inward and upward, so that the line between theconnecting-points is longer when the free end of the frame is down thanit is when the free end of the frame is partially elevated, and the linebetween the connecting-points again lengthens as the free end of theframe reaches its most elevated point. The spring is therefore undertension in what may be called the two positions of rest of the frame E,and the spring is relaxed when the frame is midway between the twopositions of rest.

In folding beds there are two sources of dangerous accidents. One isthat the bed-bottom shall fold up against the headboard and the other isthat the headboard shall fall over onto the bed bottom. The mechanismswhich have been already described prevent the first class of accident,and the main frame, supported between its head and foot ends on a rollerd, furnishes astructure which can be handled readily and which needs noheavy weights or strong springs to aid in handling it, and even thelight spring K reaches a condition of relaxation long before the closingof the parts together would be sufficient to bring about seriousaccidents, and the second source of danger is obviated by mechanism nextto be described.

To the side pieces B are hinged folding braces 13*, which close inagainst the back of the cabinet when the mattress support or frame E islifted. These braces 13 are substantially triangular in shape, with'astraight hinge edge h, from which projects two hinges 72/ and 71 bywhich the edge 13 is connected to the side pieces B. The hinge 72/ isarranged with knuckles which project farther from the meeting edge ofthe two parts than the knuckles of the hinge it, so that when the braceB is folded'inward against the back of the cabinet the outer end 3 ofthe lower edge lifts from the floor. This outer end 3 is provided with acaster-wheel that engages against the floor when the brace is turnedout, so that its outer face is straight or in a plane with the face ofthe side piece B; but when folded in the end of the brace clears thefloor and leaves the weight of the cabinet resting entirely on the fourcaster-wheels 4L. lhe diagonal edge which connects the hinge edge andthe bottom edge of the brace B is curved with a cyma-reversa curve, andthat part of the curved edge which is at the upper end of the brace whenit engages with the side piece of the frame E causes the brace to beginto swing on its hinges from its infolded position to its unfolded orbracing position, and as the frame E drops to its down position the sidepiece of it drops below the extreme upper end of the brace B, and thetwo braces are held in their unfolded position by the frame. In thisunfolded position the bottom end of the brace extends so far toward thefoot of the bed that the headboard cannot possibly tip down on themattress-support.

The extreme foot of the frame is supported by hinged standards or legs5, that drop to their leg position when the free end of the frame E islowered and folded parallel or substantially parallel With the frame Ewhen the free end of the frame E is lifted, assuming the position shownin Fig. 1 when the frame is down and the position shown in Fig. 2 whenthe frame E is lifted.

What I claim is 1. In a folding bed, the combination of the headboard, apost secured to the headboard and provided with cylindrical bearings,afolding side board and double-knuckled hinges uniting the post and sideboard, each of said cylindrical bearings forming the pintle of one ofsaid knuckles, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a standard headboard, a swinging side board, apost secured to the headboard provided with cylindrical bearings nearits upper and lower ends, rings adapted to turn on said bearings, hingeconnection between the side board and the rings, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a folding bed, in combination a headboard and folding side boards,standards finished in cylindrical form to furnish a bearing for a ringor band, a ring on said bearing, a strap-leaf secured by a pintle to thering, and stops adapted to limit the swing of the strap, with referenceto the ring, substantially as described.

4:. In a folding bed, the combination of a headboard, fixed side pieces,swinging side boards, a folding bottom in two parts adapted to fold intoshorter space as the foot end of the bottom is raised, a cam-guide tothe head part of the folding bottom, and links adapted to draw the hingeof the two-part bottom nearer to the headboard during the first part ofthe folding, substantially as described.

5. In a folding bed, in,combination with a frame and a wire fabricstretched thereon, a bearing arranged to support the said frame, astandard headboard, a link connecting the end of said frame with thestandard headboard, a folding frame adapted to form an extension at thehead end of the wire-fabricsupporting frame, and adapted to support thehead end of the mattress, acam-track arranged to engage the foldingframe and cause the same to fold with respect to the wire-fabric-holdingframe, the support under the wirefabric-holdin g frame being arranged topermit said wire-fabric-holding frame to travel thereover and turnthereon, substantially as described.

6. In a folding bed, in combination with a head board, and side boardsarranged to sim 11- late a cabinet, a mattress-supporting frame, a baseextension provided with folding braces, of which the free edge isdisposed diagonally with respect to the back and bottom edges, and whichis arranged to fold toward the middle line of the bed with the diagonaledge lying in the path of the n1attress-supporting frame, whereby themattress supporting frame when lowered, engages the braces and swingsthem outward to bracing position, substantially as described.

7. In a folding bed, the combination of the mattress-support, theheadboard, the base extension connected with said headboard, a foldingbrace adapted to fold inward toward the middle line of the bed andprovided with hinge connections with base extensions having the lowerhinge set with its l1inge-pintle farther out from the connected piece,that is the hinge-pintle of the upper hinge, whereby the outer end ofthe brace swings clear from the floor as the brace folds in,substantially described. l

S. In a folding bed, in combination with a headboard, and a swingingmattress-holding frame, a base extension, a brace hinged to the baseextension arranged to fold toward the middle line of the bed andprovided at its free edge with diagonal engaging surfaces arranged to becontacted by the mattresssupporting frame when lowered, whereby thebrace is adapted to be forced from its infolded position. to its bracingposition by the lowering of the mattress-support, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a folding bed, the combination of a headboard, a base extension,rollersjonrnaled on said extension, a mattress supporting frame-linkconnections engaging in the said frame to the base extension andarranged to rest on said rollers, and spring connections between thehead end of the m attress-snpport and the base connections arranged tobe normally in a state of tension when the mattresssupport is either inits lifted or its lowered position, but to pass a state of low tensionduring the swings of the mattress-support between its lifted and its,lowered position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN F. VVILMOT.

Witnesses:

MAY E. KOTT, ELLIOTT J. STODDARD.

